< Chapter 111: This Is Not It (3) >
The misunderstanding between the two was resolved quite easily. It was much easier compared to the time with Maiden and Yu Hwa.
“Wow, you’re a Beastmen princess.”
“So those animal ears were real.”
It had to be easy.
I had to lie to Group B (Maiden, Yu Hwa, Hermit, Choi Ji-hoon, etc.) who thought I was a survivor of a biological experiment.
But I didn’t need to lie to Group A (Shin Jia, Ha Si-yeon) who believed I was a half-angel, half-elf, and a hero.
—”What did you say this time? Don’t tell me you called me a test subject again.”
—”No, I didn’t need to lie to these two. I simply introduced you as the Beastmen princess.”
Princess Rena looked at me suspiciously.
—”Is that so? After all, I find it hard to believe that you easily convinced them that the Beastmen, who disappeared thousands of years ago, have reappeared.”
She was skeptical.
Is it because I’ve been playing too many pranks lately? She’s developed a tendency to doubt me first.
—”It’s true.”
Still, Princess Rena didn’t get rid of her skeptical look.
It was then that Ha Si-yeon spoke to me.
“Seo-yul, what is the princess saying?”
“She doesn’t seem happy. Did we do something rude?”
Both looked anxious.
They can’t understand what we’re saying, so of course, they’d feel that way.
“It’s not like that.”
“But her expression is frowning…”
Jia looked back and forth between me and Rena anxiously.
“There’s another reason for that. And there’s no need for formal speech. We’re the same age, so what’s with the honorifics?”
“Same age? 20 years old?”
Jia’s eyes widened.
“Yes. The average lifespan of a Beastmen is 200 years, so their growth rate is half ours.”
That explains why she looks about 10 years old.
“That appearance is 20 years old…”
Both of them stared at Rena, surprised. Then Rena spoke sharply.
—”What did you say to make them look at me like that?”
—”I just told them you’re 20 years old. They’re surprised, that’s all.”
Rena nodded in understanding.
—”Hmm. If we go by human standards, I do look around 10 years old. I understand.”
—”By the way, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
—”Ah, right. That comes first.”
I’d forgotten.
Facing Jia and Si-yeon, who were still looking surprised, I spoke.
“Princess Rena wants to introduce herself first.”
“Ah, right. We forgot.”
“We were distracted.”
“Of course, a lot is going on. Princess Rena will go first.”
Both responded with a look of realization. I gestured to Princess Rena.
—”Ahem.”
Rena cleared her throat and stood up, adopting a solemn expression. Truly, she looked regal, worthy of being a direct descendant of a king.
Jia and Si-yeon swallowed. Pleased with their reaction, Rena spoke.
“Hello. I am Rena Beast Liperiel.”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
After adopting a solemn tone, to say ‘Hello’ like that. Knowing her usual tone, it was hilarious to me.
The gods who told Princess Rena that formal speech is solemn really played a trick.
Ah, this is so much fun.
“Princess, hello. My name is Ha Si-yeon.”
It seems only I found it funny.
After all, these two don’t know Rena’s solemn tone (in the Beastmen language). There’s no reason for them to find it funny. She just seems like a polite princess to them.
“My name is Shin Jia. Nice to meet you.”
Both finished introducing themselves cheerfully.
“Ha Si-yeon. Shin Jia.”
Princess Rena nodded at each of them.
She had memorized their names. A heartwarming scene, but communication wasn’t advancing because the languages didn’t match.
All three looked at me at the same time.
Their faces seemed to ask for some mediation.
“Um.”
This is frustrating when they can’t understand each other.
Because I’ve been focusing on learning magic, I’ve only had time to teach her basic words, and now we’re having this problem.
“Why are you two here? What’s going on?”
“Ah? Oh, nothing special. We came a little late for a housewarming visit.”
“Who could have guessed something like this would happen?”
Both smiled awkwardly.
“Ah, this is a housewarming gift.”
Ha Si-yeon pulled out a shopping bag.
“What is it?”
“Jia and I tried to make some side dishes. You’ve been eating delivery food every day since you left the dorm, haven’t you?”
Ha Si-yeon glanced at the cooling pork belly on the side.
I had nothing to say.
I have indeed been using a food delivery app for meals lately.
—”Pork belly.”
Princess Rena looked at the cold pork belly and bowed her head. Her ears drooped; she seemed quite disappointed.
“You didn’t say you have pork belly for the princess, did you?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. This princess likes meat. She’s a wolf, you know.”
“Aha.”
At that moment, Ha Si-yeon’s eyes sparkled.
“That’s perfect then.”
She then took out a container with long-term storage from his shopping bag.
“I brought some braised ribs to eat together.”
The moment the container was opened, the aroma of the braised ribs tantalizingly tickled my nose. You could tell it was delicious just by the smell.
“Oh, wow. What is that?”
The princess seemed to be captivated by the aroma as well. Her eyes gleamed, just like when she first tasted chicken.
—Ah, the kids brought some side dishes for us. That’s braised ribs.
—Ribs…
At this moment, it seems like saliva could start dripping any second.
“Princess, you seem to like it?”
“It seems so.”
At her strong reaction, both Si-yeon and Jia’s faces brightened up.
“Then I’ll go heat this up a bit.”
“Then I will get the dishes… Ancestor, do we have dishes?”
“They should be up there.”
I haven’t written this before, but…
The two moved as if they were one body. About a minute passed like that.
—Oh, oh… this is…
On the table, a feast was laid out. The princess’s face seemed to say, “I’m so happy.”
“Done! Let’s eat!”
Finally placing the galbijjim (Korean braised ribs) in the center, Ha Si-yeon also took her seat.
—Can we eat now?
—Before that, Princess. There’s something you have to say before we eat.
—Ah, right.
The princess swallowed her saliva and spoke in Korean.
“I will eat well.”
After saying that, the princess stared intently into my eyes.
Her eyes, shining brightly, seemed to ask, “Can we eat now?” I gave a small nod.
The next moment, the princess’s eyes grew enormous as she put the galbijjim (Korean braised short ribs) in her mouth. With her cheeks puffed up, she twitched her ears and both hands.
“Seems like it suits your taste.”
“Yeah. Thankfully.”
Jia and Siyeon also smiled.
I smiled too.
Just watching them made me feel as if I was becoming happy as well.
* * *
In a hotel near Seoul.
―Lust. How long are you planning to just goof off?
“I told you~ One month.”
Lust was having a conversation with Maestro.
―You know how big of an impact it is to be absent for a whole month during this busy period.
“I’ve almost finished the tasks that were assigned to me.”
―Vagabond still had a lot of things left to do. That…
“Why do I have to do that?”
Lust responded with a frustrated expression.
“What does the boss say?”
―…To just let it be.
“Then it’s settled. Why do you keep telling me to come back?”
Before joining the Saviors of Truth, Lust made a contract with Unknown, granting her a one-month period of freedom whenever she wanted. Lust was merely fulfilling that condition.
―…As I said, we are short-handed. And there’s something only you can do.
Maestro spoke as if he were sighing.
―If you come back now, I’ll grant you one favor.
“…A favor?”
―Yes.
Maestro decided to offer Lust a carrot. Lust, who was always hanging around Maestro and tempting him, would surely come back if given this condition.
“Ah ha. And use that favor to get you?”
―…Yes.
There might be a time loss, but it’s better than having Lust gone for another three weeks.
“Ha.”
However, Lust’s reaction was entirely different from what Maestro expected.
“What do you take me for, an idiot?”
Lust’s expression became malevolent.
Lust had been hanging around Maestro because he was a strong individual who could ‘endure’ Lust’s aura.
“What are u gonna do about it? Huh. fuck off, you bastard.”
Most men fall into a state of heightened lust when touched by Lust, gradually having their life energy drained until they die. The life energy is higher in those with stronger abilities.
Lust, suffering from a severe affection deficit, had no choice but to either prey on weak men or stick to stronger men to feel others’ warmth.
“Anyway, I won’t be back for a month, so just know that.”
Lust angrily hung up the phone.
“What a bastard.”
Maestro clearly knew about her affection deficit and made that proposal to exploit her. This fact filled her with unbearable rage.
“What’s the use of being handsome?”
His personality is trash.
Biting her lip, Lust threw her smartphone against the wall.
“Tsk.”
What Lust felt at that moment was regret.
Why did she cling to a man like Maestro?
There were times when she thought he was charming.
His resilience to Lust’s aura had been a major factor.
But not now.
His comment a while ago had indeed dampened her affections, and while that played a role, it wasn’t the primary reason.
“Seo-yul.”
Kang Seo-yul. The most wonderful, lovable, pure, and perfect man Lust had ever met. There was no way any other man could catch her eye now.
“Ah…”
Thinking of him, the irritation that was bubbling inside her seemed to melt away.
“Seo-yul…”
The most handsome man she had ever seen. The man to whom she wanted to give everything. The man who made her feel happy just by looking at him.
‘And…’
A man who doesn’t flinch at her touch.
For some reason, she can’t drain his life energy.
“My destined man.”
Lust’s ‘Siphon Energy’, based on the system, doesn’t work on Kang Seo-yul, whose existence within the system is unclear. Naturally, her aura that stirs lust also doesn’t work, nor does her ability to absorb life energy.
Of course, Lust doesn’t know this fact.
“I wish it was tomorrow already…”
Lust licked her lips with an enchanting gaze.
* * *
Sunday night.
I was once again practicing magic with the princess.
“You. Are you really using magic for the first time?”
“Why? Because I’m doing it so well?”
The princess fell silent.
And her silence was soon an affirmation.
“It’s my first time. Don’t you remember? You personally guided my magical power.”
“That is true, but…”
She looks incredulous.
After all, my talent is so exceptional. Whether it’s due to the knowledge my brother gave me or for some other reason, I’m not sure.
Once I got the hang of it, there was no hindrance afterward. Now, I’m even improving it.
…Of course, my magical power is so limited that I can only use low to mid-level magic.
“Now you’re about as good as me at fire magic.”
“As good? Am I not better?”
“Heh. That won’t work against me, who possesses the original magic of all four elements.”
Rena possesses magic imbued with all four elements earth, water, fire, and air. It’s unquestionably an overpowered talent.
Learning from such a genius, I too am rapidly evolving.
“Are you sure?”
“I can use any fire magic that you can, and you can use any magic that I can, so we’re about even.”
“Hmm.”
I think I have the upper hand in fire magic, but she’s not entirely wrong.
“Okay. If there’s a spell that I can use and you can’t, you’ll admit I’m better, right?”
“Heh. Try it if you can. That’s if you can!”
The princess lifts her head proudly and laughs. I laugh too.
I gather my magical power.
Whooooosh!
A Fire Arrow appears in an instant.
“Just a Fire Arrow? I could do that spell in my sleep.”
“Ah, don’t be hasty. Just watch.”
I smirk and pour more magical power into it.
“…What?”
The Fire Arrow turns white.
Slowly but surely, white overcame the red.
In no time, a special Fire Arrow, glowing in a translucent white, had formed in my palm.
It was a modified spell using the Spirit’s Flame.
No matter how you look at it, she can’t do this. I grinned proudly.
“How about it? Can you do this…?”
At that moment,
Whoooooosh!
Fire sprouted from behind my back.
“Wings?”
They were wings.
Surreal wings, glowing in a soft red and white.
Caught off guard by the unexpected event, I was stunned.
“…What?”
At that moment, something flashed through my mind.
I quickly removed my half-glove and checked the back of my hand.
“Gone.”
The tattoo of the Spirit race is gone.
In other words,
The use of the spirit flame just now has ‘fully integrated’ the characteristics of the Spirit race.
“But what is this effect?”
I stared dumbfounded at the wings on my back.
< Chapter 111: This Is Not It (3) > The End.
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